Mooresville, NC (December 14, 2010) – While the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season wrapped up just three weeks ago in Homestead, the Germain Racing team has wasted no time in preparing for the 2011 season. The front office staff is hard at work trying to secure additional funding to add to GEICO’s sponsorship of 18 of the 36 races, and crew chief Bootie Barker and the GEICO crew have been burning the midnight oil in the race shop.

After enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, Casey Mears and Germain Racing are back at work and focused on the Daytona 500. Mears and the GEICO team will be taking part in a tire test on December 15th and 16th at the newly resurfaced Daytona International Speedway; the first among NASCAR’s top series to test the new 2.5-mile superspeedway.

Mears’ reserved demeanor often betrays his aggressive on-track driving style, and if one would inquire with the soft-spoken driver as to how his presence has elevated Germain Racing to a Top 25 team, he will respond humbly. Mears is happy to have improved the GEICO team’s performance, but he is not content with where they are right now. He believes that something better awaits them.

“I’ve enjoyed the last few months and the opportunity to work with Germain Racing and our sponsor GEICO,” Mears said. “It’s been fun to get out there and be competitive and beat some of the top teams each week, but I know we are just beginning. As I’ve said in the past, I will put this team up against any team in the garage.” He continued, “I really can’t thank GEICO enough for their support of what we’re doing. Aside from being the primary sponsor for 18 races, they’re also working with us to help secure additional sponsorship for the other half of the season. It’s a great partnership and we’re all operating with big picture vision.”

Mears has given Germain Racing and GEICO cause for optimism and their collective efforts will surely create a viable path to success. That path begins with the tire test this week in Daytona.

Just two months remain before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series arrives at Daytona International Speedway to get the 2011 season underway. To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

Homestead, FL (November 21, 2010) – Casey Mears and the GEICO Racing team arrived in Homestead looking to put GEICO in the field for their first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the south Florida season finale.Mears and the Germain Racing team have proven themselves as a solid Top 25 team and looked to continue their run in Homestead.

On Friday, practice got off to a fast start and Mears would shoot to the top of the speed chart and run in the Top 20.As the practice came to a close, the #13 GEICO Camry dropped to 39th as the team prepared to head into Sprint Cup Series qualifying late Friday afternoon.

A year ago, the #13 GEICO Camry was sent home after narrowly missing the race, but Mears’ qualifying lap of 30.948 seconds on Friday ensured that it would not happen twice.The #13 GEICO Camry would line up three spots ahead of Denny Hamlin who would later spend his afternoon attempting to notch his first Sprint Cup Series championship.

When the season finale got underway under bright, clear skies and temperatures in the 80’s, Mears wasted little time moving forward.Starting 34th, he moved the #13 GEICO Camry into 29th by the close of the second lap.

When the event’s first caution flag waved on Lap 18, Mears was running in the 30th position and radioed to crew chief Bootie Barker: “There’s no front grip.The front grip is terrible.”Barker assured Mears that the team would go to work on the #13 Camry upon his arrival on pit road under the caution flag.

The following lap, Mears brought the #13 GEICO Camry to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew and they furnished him with four fresh Goodyear Racing tires, a tank of Sunoco racing fuel and the necessary adjustments to assist with the front grip.After coming down pit road in the 30th position, the Germain Racing pit crew returned Mears to the racing surface 27th, netting three positions on pit road.

Just two laps after going back under the green flag, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry picked up three positions, moving into 24th before the caution flag reemerged when Denny Hamlin was sent for a spin through the infield grass.Mears stayed out and did not come down pit road, given he had just made a visit two laps earlier.

Mears reached the 23rd position by Lap 28 and Lap 53 found him telling Barker that his GEICO Camry ‘feels tight in the center’.

Mears brought the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road on Lap 70 for a scheduled green flag pit stop.He took on four tires and fuel and returned to the race in the 37th position.Two laps later, Mears had picked up five positions and was sitting 32nd.A lap later, on Lap 73, he was 31st and he informed Barker that his car ‘is a lot better in the center’.

Mears reached 30th before the caution flag was displayed on Lap 98.He visited pit road to receive four tires, fuel and adjustments, as he continued to battle an ill-handling racecar.After restarting 33rd on Lap 103, he radioed to Barker on Lap 103, “It’s weird.I’m a little tighter, but I’m not any better.”

Something must have gotten better because Mears began to move the #13 GEICO Camry through the field.He reached 30th by Lap 124 and then found himself in 28th when Marcos Ambrose went for a spin on Lap 135, once again bringing out the yellow.

After restarting 28th on Lap 140, Mears jumped to 27th before the caution flag waved just a lap later when Juan Pablo Montoya and Joey Logano found themselves tangled up.

Mears spent a short time down a lap, but quickly hustled to 26th position on Lap 146 and put himself in the Lucky Dog position – the first car a lap down.The racing gods showed mercy on Mears and the GEICO Racing team, as the caution flag was displayed on Lap 164, allowing Mears to return to the Lead Lap.

Although he was a lap down, Mears had been consistently faster than the cars in front of him, so returning to the Lead Lap offered the opportunity to start gaining positions.He wasted little time.After restarting 26th on Lap 169, Mears had the #13 GEICO Camry 25th on the subsequent lap.He then jumped to 24th on Lap 172, 23rd on Lap 181 and was running 21st when the cautionflag came out for debris on Lap 187.

With 75 laps to go, he was running in the 20th position.

After the caution came out on Lap 195 when Dave Blaney hit the wall, Mears came down pit road for four tires and fuel.Barker informed Mears that he would be short on fuel and that he would need to pit one more time prior to the conclusion of the race.72 laps remained and the #13 GEICO Camry would be able to travel 53 laps on a full tank of fuel.

After restarting 28th on Lap 199, the caution flag came out once again just two laps later when Jeff Gordon’s motor blew on the frontstretch.Mears took the opportunity to bring the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road to top off with fuel.

Mears restarted 29th on Lap 206 and began a run through the field.On Lap 214, he passed both Bill Elliott and Bobby Labonte to move back into the Top 25.

A week ago in Phoenix, Mears found himself stuck in fourth gear for the vast majority of the race beforehustling to a 24th place finish.Homestead saw the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry once again battling a gear issue as Sunday’s race wound down.

While running 24th on Lap 233, Mears radioed to Barker that he felt like he lost the driveline and gears.Barker instructed him to take the #13 GEICO Camry directly to the garage.No one could have predicted what would happen next.Upon inspection of the racecar it was determined that the rear gear broke, something that rarely, if ever, happens in racing.

Mears was out of the race with just 34 laps remaining.After starting 34th, Mears and the GEICO team would be relegated to a 33rd place finish, a colossal disappointment considering they had run solidly in the Top 25 for much of the day and appeared destined for a Top 20 finish.

While Mears was visibly disappointed, he spoke with big picture vision.

“Something like this is tough because these things just don’t happen; rear gears don’t normally break,” Mears said.“But it’s racing and I’m sure we all think we’ve seen everything until we see the next crazy thing.I’m heartbroken for this team because we have worked so hard to get to the point where we are now as a solid Top 25 team.We have made tremendous improvement since August and I almost wish Daytona (2011) was next week because we keep improving and we feel we’re better than a lot of the teams out there.”

He continued, “When the season ends it means that Thanksgiving is around the corner and I always think of our troops serving in forward areas.What we do here at the racetrack each week is a sport, but what our troops do is life or death and they provide the blanket of freedom that we sleep under each night.Our troops and their families are in Trish (wife) and I’s thoughts as we count our blessings this holiday season.”

Since Mears took over driving duties of the #13 GEICO Camry in August, the team has missed just one race and has consistently finished in the Top 25 each week.The 2011 season will find GEICO as the primary sponsor for 18 races, leaving an exceptional opportunity for a company to come on-board and complete the season.The names ‘Mears’ and ‘GEICO’ are synonymous with greatness and a company looking to expand awareness would benefit from a relationship with both.

Less than three months remain before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series arrives at Daytona International Speedway to get the 2011 season underway.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

His title is Director of Operations for Germain Motor Company.But what does that mean?John Malishenko of Germain Motor Company explains what it’s like to be a part of a thriving car empire when he joins Dan “Boots” Longenette, Lex McAllister, andRandy Rhinehart on Auto Smarts presented by Germain.com,Sunday from 10am-12n on 95.5 The Hawk and Wink 107.1.Co-host Steve Germain is on assignment covering the end of the NASCAR Chase.

What’s your first car story?It’s a topic we’ve bandied about on the show for more nearly two years!The listeners spoke last weekend and jammed the phone lines, so we want to hear more about your first set of wheels…whether it was a lean mean driving machine or a bucket of bolts!The best stories get the green flag for an Auto Smarts prize package

The majority of the rest of the program is dedicated to you…the callers, the emailers.The crew is ready for your questions at 821-HAWK (9465) or toll free at 888-821-9465.You can alsoemail the crew at www.autosmartsradio.com andjoin them via Facebook or Twitter!

Have a new car or automotive legal question you need some help with?Michael Sacks of Kimmel and Silverman has your back in his 1-800 Lemon Law Lemon Aid Minute.What is an administrative license suspension? Jack Moser knows the answer and explains it in layman’s terms in another thought-provoking installment of his weekly busted for drunk driving.com feature.

Mooresville, NC (November 10, 2010) – Initially scheduled to appear as the primary sponsor of the #13 Germain Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry for 18 races during the 2010 season, GEICO’s excitement has grown.After Talladega, the insurance giant decided to add the Texas Sprint Cup Series race and then, after the checkered flag was displayed in Fort Worth last weekend, they began contemplating the balance of the season.

Late yesterday, GEICO called the offices of Germain Racing and announced that they would be picking up primary sponsorship of Casey Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry for the remaining two Sprint Cup Series races, at Phoenix and Homestead.GEICO will also appear as a major associate sponsor on the #30 Toyota Tundra of Todd Bodine, who currently has a firm grasp on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points lead.

When NASCAR arrives in Homestead for NASCAR’s season finale, the GEICO Gecko will boast a full schedule.With today’s announcement, GEICO will find themselves on three entries when race activities get underway on the Germain family’s home turf in south Florida.Aside from the entries of Mears and Bodine, the charming and exciting ‘Mad’ Max Papis will join his teammates, as he pilots the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra in his final Truck Series race of the season before embarking on a full-time Truck Series schedule in 2011.

After GEICO announced their sponsorship of the #13 Toyota Camry for Phoenix and Homestead, Mears’ face softened and a smile emerged.

“This is great news and I think it says a lot about GEICO’s faith and belief in what we’re doing here; where we started, where we are and where we’re going,” Mears said.“We’re deeply appreciative of GEICO’s continued support.It’s been fun to get out there and be competitive every week.Even in Texas where we had a really tough day, maybe the toughest day we’ve had, we were still able to work hard, stay focused and escape the place with a 26th place finish.”He continued, “We have a great team of guys here and the Germain family has great belief in what we’re doing, so the atmosphere around the shop is very exciting.”

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 1-mile tri-oval of Phoenix International Raceway for the opening practice session at 2:00 PM (ET) on Friday, November 12th. Qualifying will follow at 5:45 PM (ET).

The Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, November 14th, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 3:00 PM (ET).The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

Fort Worth, TX (November 7, 2010) – As the 2010 season begins to wind down, GEICO driver Casey Mears’ comfort seems to increase. Since he climbed into the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry in August, he has helped Germain Racing make marked improvement and has consistently performed in the Top 25 each week, as well as improving the team’s qualifying efforts.

Mears’ practice effort in Texas left cause for excitement in the GEICO garage stall. Although Mears would ultimately end up 36th on the speed chart at the end of practice, he initially shot straight to 5th and then sat as high as 2nd during the 90-minute session.

When qualifying got underway, Mears took to the track 48th out of the 49 cars entered. He made quick work of the 1.5-mile quad-oval and put the #13 GEICO Camry in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field. Pacing the track in just 28.463 seconds at a rate of speed of 189.720 miles per hour, Mears would start 35th when the cars rolled off the starting grid on Sunday afternoon.

When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field took the green flag under bright, sunny skies on Sunday, Mears would roll off of the starting grid in the 35th position. Although he picked up three positions by the second lap, the day’s problems set in immediately. Mears quickly radioed to crew chief Bootie Barker on Lap 6: “This thing is plowin’.”

Fortunately for Mears, but not so good for Joe Nemecheck, the event’s first caution flag of the day was displayed when Nemechek’s motor went up in smoke on the frontstretch on Lap 12. This afforded the GEICO team the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to the #13 GEICO Camry.

After restarting 33rd on Lap 17, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry began to move forward and by Lap 29 they were in the 30th position. Unfortunately, just five laps later, an agitated Mears reported to Bootie Barker: “It won’t turn. I can’t make anything happen here. The back is getting worse.”

The event’s second caution flag of the day waved on Lap 42, once again allowing Mears to bring his #13 GEICO Camry to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew. Once on pit road, Mears received four tires, fuel and adjustments. He restarted 32nd on Lap 47, but just 11 laps later, running in the 31st position, Mears’ frustration grew as he told Barker: “It’s so tight it won’t turn.”

Mears, who usually talks little on the radio and generally appears calm, was growing more frustrated as the race wore on. He was quite verbal throughout the afternoon and despite his concern over the racecar, he remained focused and maintained his position inside of the Top 30.

Despite the best efforts of the team, Mears would continue to battle an ill-handling racecar for the balance of the race. A bright spot was the GEICO pit crew who served Mears masterfully, getting him on and off of pit road quickly. A grateful Mears acknowledged the pit crew’s efforts on Lap 132: “You guys did a good job on pit road not getting us behind on the green flag stops.”
Mears was then credited for leading a lap after he was at the front of the field on Lap 134.

When the caution flag was displayed on Lap 191, no one could have predicted the drama that would unfold during a single caution period. Martin Truex, Jr., brought out the caution with a spin, but coming out of Turn 2 Jeff Burton planted Jeff Gordon into the wall, drawing a fiery response from Gordon. As the drivers were making their way to the ambulance, a melee ensued, as Gordon met Burton with punches before NASCAR officials intervened. Just minutes later, the crew chief of Jimmie Johnson’s car benched his pit crew and ordered the pit crew of Jeff Gordon’s car to the #48 car’s pit box to tend to Johnson’s pit stops.

Although the Lap 191 caution lasted just five laps, it felt more like an hour given the series of events. Mears restarted 30th on Lap 196 and exhibited marked progress, jumping the #13 GEICO Camry to 27th on Lap 202. He continued moving forward and reached 20th by Lap 245 before scheduled green flag pit stops began sending the field down pit road for service.

On Lap 327, Mears narrowly missed being a part of the event’s last caution of the day. Patrick Carpentier spun and Mears was hard on the brakes to avoid becoming collateral damage. Mears brought the GEICO Camry down pit road and took on four fresh tires to prepare for the final restart of the day.

Mears restarted 29th with just three laps remaining. He took the white flag in 28th and by the time the checkered flag was in the air, Mears had somehow managed to hustle to a 26th place finish. Despite the setbacks with the racecar, Mears salvaged an otherwise bad day at the track and transformed it into a resounding success, given the circumstances.

When he climbed from the #13 GEICO Camry following the race, Mears was succinct and direct.

“It was a bad day that we turned into a good day,” Mears said. “The GEICO pit crew did a good job on pit road and that really helped us a lot. It’s racing and we’re going to have days like today, but it’s good that we’re resilient enough to keep fighting and not quit. It came down to the final lap, but we ended on a good note and that’s what matters.”

Texas concludes GEICO’s 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. If the last lap of the Texas race is any indication, the future looks bright for Casey Mears and the GEICO Racing team. GEICO will be announcing their 2011 Sprint Cup Series schedule within the next few weeks.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

Talladega, AL (October 31, 2010) – Talladega is known to have one of the wildest races (and infields) on the NASCAR circuit.When Halloween and NASCAR clash at the historic racetrack it only lends credence on both counts.Casey Mears and the GEICO team were hoping not to fall victim to ‘The Big One’ when they arrived on-site this weekend.

Friday afternoon saw the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hitting the track for two practice sessions.Although Mears appeared to be fast enough to make Sunday’s field of 43, his times were unspectacular.A seasoned veteran, Mears showed little concern as he left the garage area after the final practice on Friday.

When qualifying got underway, Mears appeared relaxed as he buckled into the #13 GEICO Camry.He calmly left pit road, but soon after he stormed around the 2.66-mile tri-oval in just 52.151 seconds, netting GEICO their best ever NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying effort.Mears would start Sunday’s Amp Energy Juice 500 from the inside of Row 5, in the 9th position.

Bright sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70’s welcomed the Sprint Cup Series to the track on race day.Mears took the green flag in the 9th position, but by Lap 5 he was running 5th.As Talladega would have it, the #13 GEICO Camry would fall in and out of the draft and vacillated anywhere between 5th and 24th positions through the opening forty laps of the race.

Crew chief Bootie Barker ordered the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road on Lap 40 for a scheduled green flag pit stop.The Germain Racing pit crew outfitted Mears with two right side tires and fuel before returning him to the racing surface in the 24th position.

Just two laps later, Mears reported to Barker: “It won’t run by itself, I need someone around me.”On Lap 47, he found that someone and he quickly jumped the GEICO Camry to 19th.Lap 50 saw Mears in the middle of a four-car draft that included Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.The 4-car draft quickly rejoined the main pack of cars and Mears returned to business as usual, picking up positions until he reached 8th on Lap 60.

A single lap later, on Lap 61, Mears was running third and pulled out and became the leader of the race, until Jeff Burton left him hung out to dry with no one to push him.

The event’s first caution flag of the day was displayed on Lap 70, allowing Mears to bring the #13 GEICO Camry to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew.They provided Mears with four fresh Goodyear tires, a tank of Sunoco racing fuel and much needed rear adjustments.After restarting 20th on Lap 74, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry continued their solid Top 20 run.

With 62 laps to go, Casey asked Barker how many laps were left, obviously starting to mentally decide when to make a move.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry were running solidly in the Top 10 when Marcos Ambrose got turned, initiating a multi-car spin.Mears somehow managed to narrowly avoid peril and keep the GEICO Camry clean despite cars spinning around him.Barker told Mears to come down pit road for a quick fuel stop under the caution.Mears arrived in the GEICO Racing pit box and the Germain Racing pit crew quickly filled his car with fuel and returned him to the racetrack two spots to the good.

As the laps began to wind down, the GEICO Camry was sitting in the 9th position with just 43 laps remaining in the race.With 20 to go, Mears’ voice sounded more like he was sitting on his couch at home, rather than in a racecar traveling at 200 miles per hour.He was calm, cool and collected when he said to Barker, “I’m waiting to see who is going to make a move.”

In Hollywood drama type fashion, the caution flag was displayed for debris with just seven laps remaining in the race.Mears took the opportunity to come down pit road and take a quick splash of fuel before the dash for cash began.

Restarting 26th with five laps to go, Mears moved the #13 GEICO into the 21st position on the subsequent lap.He dropped to 32nd on Lap 187, but the final lap found him charging hard to the front, reaching as high as 24th before the event’s final caution flag of the day waved just after the white flag was shown to the field.Consequently, the field was frozen, prohibiting Mears from continuing his assault on the field.Rather than the Top 10 he was sure to have, Mears and the GEICO Racing team were instead stuck with a 24th place finish, just ahead of Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne, who also fell victim to the last lap caution.

While a Top 25 is generally considered a success in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing, today it was only frustrating.Mears spent his entire afternoon running in or around the Top 15 and the #13 GEICO Camry was poised for a Top 10 finish, if not for the last lap crash that saw A.J. Allmendinger upside down in Turn 1.

When spotter Jason Jarrett informed Mears of the last lap caution flag, Mears yelled what everyone was else was thinking: “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“It’s a frustrating outcome because we ran so well all day; the #13 GEICO Camry was great in the draft and we were definitely headed for a Top 10,” said a frustrated Mears.“We were solid today and it was great to be able to put the GEICO Camry up front and even lead the race at one point.This is Talladega, what else can you say.We’ll get back after it in Texas next week.”

Next week, Casey Mears and the GEICO team head to the Lone Star State.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 1.5-mile quad-oval at Texas Motor Speedway for the opening practice session at 1:00 PM (EDT) on Friday, November 5th.Qualifying will follow at 4:40 PM (EDT).

The AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, November 7th and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 3:00 PM (EDT). The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

Fontana, CA (October 10, 2010) – After the checkered flag had been displayed in Kansas last weekend, GEICO driver Casey Mears was quick to pack up his things and board a flight with his wife and daughter to California.That’s because Mears spent his childhood in Bakersfield, just 150-miles removed from Fontana.

Mears’ week proved fruitful, as he got to visit home, and also celebrated his daughter’s second birthday.Capping off his week was the success that met him when he arrived in Fontana for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ opening practice session on Friday.

Mears sent the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry to the top of the speed charts within five minutes of being on the racetrack.He quickly shot up to seventh and would later end up 23rd when the only practice session prior to qualifying ended.The #13 GEICO Camry was the fastest ‘go or go home’ car, with Jason Leffler being the next closest contender in 30th.

When qualifying got underway, Mears went out 38th, meaning he would be the third ‘go or go home’ car to take to the racing surface for his two lap qualifying effort.Mears would not need to wait around to learn his fate for Sunday’s race because he quickly placed the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry on Row 6 on the starting grid for the Pepsi Max 400.Qualifying 12th, Mears handed GEICO their best ever qualifying effort since their foray into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009.

Hot temperatures heated the racetrack when race day arrived and a stronger than expected wind worried crew chiefs and drivers alike.Fortunately, it did not appear that either of these conditions would ultimately play a role in Sunday’s race.

After starting 12th, Mears held strong in the Top 15 when the green flag was displayed, battling for positions and even garnering significant television time while holding off several Chase contenders. Unfortunately, however, he soon appeared to freefall through the field.On Lap 23, Mears radioed to Crew Chief Bootie Barker, “The car is really loose.It’s tight in the center and loose in and loose off.”Barker assured him they would go to work on the #13 GEICO Camry when the first caution flag came out.

They would not have to wait long, as Greg Biffle’s engine blew on Lap 40, bringing out the event’s first caution flag of the day, and allowing the Germain Racing team the opportunity to right the #13 GEICO Camry. Mears came down pit road and took on four fresh tires, a tank of fuel, and adjustments.Mears entered the pits 32nd, but the Germain Racing pit crew sent him back out 30th, netting two positions during the stop.

After restarting 30th on Lap 46, Mears quickly jumped to 23rd by Lap 51 before the event’s second caution flag of the day was brought out by a Marcos Ambrose spin on Lap 53.When Mears brought the #13 GEICO Camry in for service, the Germain Racing pit crew outfitted his car with four tires, fuel, and a half round of wedge in the left rear.Despite making the adjustments during the pit stop, Mears would not lose any positions on pit road and would restart 22nd when the race went back under green on Lap 58.However, the caution flag would immediately make another appearance on behalf of Carl Edwards before one lap was completed under green.Having picked up two spots on the single green flag lap, Mears restarted 20th on Lap 59.Mears picked up three positions in two laps and by Lap 63 he was flirting with the Top 15, as he sat 17th.

Mears continued to battle a loose condition and to add to the issue, he reported a vibration on Lap 95.When the caution flag was displayed on lap 114, the Germain Racing pit crew serviced the #13 GEICO Camry and sent Mears back out two spots to the good, allowing him to restart 19th after coming into the pits in the 21st position.

The call of the day came on Lap 155 when Mears was running 24th when the yellow flag waved.During Mears’ trip down pit road, Barker ordered the Germain Racing pit crew to only put two tires on the #13 GEICO Camry in order to gain valuable track position.He added that they needed to pack the fuel tank full of fuel in hopes of having enough to make it to the end.The former worked, as Mears was able to pick up 17 positions on pit road, but the latter did not fair as well, as the #13 GEICO Camry would still be half a lap short of being able to go the distance.

Restarting 7th with just 42 laps remaining, Mears ran solidly in the Top 10 before competitors with four fresh tires would begin to get the best of him.He also continued to suffer from an incident that happened midway through the race.A fellow competitor took a trip through the infield grass, but Mears suffered the consequences, as grass and dirt filled the grill of the #13 GEICO Camry.The Germain Racing pit crew worked feverishly to clean out the grill, but the engine would continue to lose power nevertheless. Despite the setback, Mears still managed to run comfortably in the Top 20.

As the race began to wind down, Barker began to contemplate when he would need to bring the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road to top off with fuel.On Lap 182, the racing gods answered his prayer when the caution flag was displayed, allowing Mears the opportunity to take on the necessary Sunoco racing fuel.He would also take on four tires and then restart the race in the 21st position on Lap 187.

When you go to Hollywood, you would expect drama.NASCAR is no different, and with just seven laps remaining in the 400-mile race, the final caution flag of the day came out, providing fans with an entertaining finish.

Mears brought the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road and took on just two tires before restarting the race 21st with just three laps left on the docket. Despite losing power in the engine and battling the flag-to-flag loose condition, Mears managed to hustle to his second consecutive Top 25 finish and also put smiles on the faces of his hometown crowd.

“We are competitive and this GEICO team can be really good; we’re getting there,” Mears said after climbing from the GEICO Camry.“We’ve come a long way pretty quick and we have high expectations for ourselves, so we’re going to continue working hard at the shop, as well as working on getting sponsorship for the remaining races, both this year and next.”

He continued, “We have GEICO on-board for Charlotte and Talladega for the remainder of this year, so we need to find a company to partner with us for the other races and have as much fun as we’re having building this program. GEICO is a tremendous partner and their support is unwavering; I really can’t thank them enough for giving us this opportunity.”

Next week, Casey Mears and the GEICO team get to sleep in their own beds, as they will race under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 1.5-mile quad-oval in Concord, NC, for the opening practice session at 3:30 PM (EDT) on Thursday, October 14th.Qualifying will follow at 7:10 PM (EDT).

The Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Saturday, October 16th, and it will be televised live on ABC beginning at 7:30 PM (EDT), while the Performance Racing Network (PRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

Kansas City, KS (October 3, 2010) – This weekend, Casey Mears and the GEICO Racing team headed to the heart of America where cooler temperatures awaited them. They were looking to improve upon their 29th place finish in Dover last week.

Things got off to a quick start when Mears was the second fastest ‘go or go home’ car at the conclusion of the opening practice session on Friday. However, qualifying dealt them a bit of a wildcard when Mears qualified the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry 37th for Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The team felt as though they may have over adjusted the car prior to qualifying, causing them to be relegated to the 19th row on the starting grid.

When race day arrived, it was met with cold temperatures and bright sunshine. As the green flag approached, the day would warm and a light breeze would overtake the speedway. Due to a transmission change in the #13 GEICO Camry, Mears would be forced to start at the rear of the field.

A seemingly undaunted Mears would quickly pick up positions once the race got underway, moving up to 37th by the second lap. The GEICO Camry picked up another three spots and sat in the 34th position on Lap 6. Mears immediately began battling a tight condition and found the car hard to handle in and out of the turns. He radioed to crew chief Bootie Barker, “The car is really tight.” Barker assured Mears that they would make the necessary adjustments when the race went under caution.

Lap 41 found Juan Pablo Montoya scraping the wall in Turn 3, bringing out the event’s first caution flag of the day. Mears traveled down pit road on Lap 43 looking for relief from the Germain Racing pit crew. The GEICO pit crew replenished the #13 GEICO Camry with four fresh Goodyear Racing tires, a tank of Sunoco racing fuel, and also made significant adjustments to the racecar. Upon his return to the racing surface, Mears informed Barker that he felt a vibration.

After restarting 34th on Lap 47, Mears noted the front end of the GEICO Camry, indicating that he was lacking grip on the racetrack. Just a few laps later, on Lap 52, Kyle Busch assisted David Reutimann coming out of Turn 2, sending Reutimann into a spin. Mears said to Barker, “The car won’t turn. The front end doesn’t grip and work.” Mears brought the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road for service on Lap 53, where he received four tires, fuel and more adjustments. Mears came down pit road in the 33rd position, but restarted the race on Lap 56 in 31st due to a timely stop by the Germain Racing pit crew.

Mears dropped to 33rd on Lap 58 before making a brave move on the front stretch, going three wide in order to pick up two positions and move into 31st.

The GEICO team would make their first scheduled green flag pit stop of the day on Lap 96. Mears took on four new tires and fuel and, after coming down pit road in the 30th position, he would return to the racing surface 37th. Mears made quick work of the cars in front of him, jumping up to 33rd in just two laps. Mears broke into the Top 30 and sat 27th on Lap 141 before another scheduled green flag pit stop sent him down pit road for service. He would emerge 34th and would take over the 28th position on Lap 154. Lap 154 also found Reutimann and Busch once again making contact in Turn 2, sending the field under caution.

Mears narrowly avoided peril on Lap 168 when Elliott Sadler was headed down pit road, but quickly changed his mind and turned up in front of the #13 GEICO Camry.

Mears cracked the Top 25 on Lap 190. Barker told Mears: “As it gets cooler, you’re getting faster. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’.” And he did. Mears captured the 23rd position on Lap 198 before the GEICO team made their final stop of the day under green on Lap 220. After the Germain Racing pit crew turned out another quick stop, Mears rejoined the field running in the 33rd position. Two laps later, the #13 GEICO Camry was 30th.

On Lap 226, Mears let Barker know that “all of a sudden the car got really loose.” Loose must have been good because the GEICO Camry began picking off one spot after the other, rejoining the Top 25 on Lap 239.

When the checkered flag was displayed after 400 miles of racing, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry recorded a 24th place finish.

“It was a challenging day today, but the guys on this GEICO team worked really hard to get the car right,” Mears said. “I was pleased with the pit crew today and we did a good job of getting on and off of pit road. While we would liked to have finished better, we’ll take 24th and head to Fontana looking to continue to build this GEICO Racing program.”

Next week, Casey Mears and the GEICO team head west to Southern California for the Pepsi Max 400.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 2-mile D-shaped oval in Fontana for the opening practice session at 3:00 PM (EDT) on Friday, October 8th. Qualifying will follow at 6:40 PM (EDT).

The Pepsi Max 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, October 10th, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 3:00 PM (EDT), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

Dover, DE (September 26, 2010) – Casey Mears arrived at Dover International Speedway looking to continue a roll that originated in Atlanta.After finishing 26th in the Emory Healthcare 500, he took the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry to Richmond and recorded a 21st place finish.

Mears’ effort is turning heads and among those heads are the executives at GEICO’s corporate office.Initially not on the 18-race GEICO NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, Dover was quickly added after Mears’ finish at Richmond International Raceway.Much like Richmond, Dover is just 90-miles from GEICO’s headquarters in Washington, DC, and provided yet another opportunity for the Gecko to play in his own backyard.

In typical Mears fashion, the #13 GEICO Camry was swift and decisive when it took to the Monster Mile in Dover.Mears was second fastest among the ‘go or go home’ cars when the opening practice session concluded.His encore performance in qualifying showed him one spot better, as he was the fastest ‘go or go home’ car and sat 27th overall, just head of Jeff Burton and one spot behind Tony Stewart.

While rain began to fall on Sunday morning, it quickly cleared allowing the Sprint Cup Series the opportunity to go racing for 400-miles. When the race went green under overcast skies, Casey Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry dropped to 29th during the opening laps.

From the outset, Mears would battle a loose racecar.The event’s first caution on Lap 39 would allow the Germain Racing pit crew to make adjustments on the #13 GEICO Camry. The adjustments would serve as little consolation to Mears, as he would continue to hold on and try to maintain control of the racecar.

The Germain Racing team received another opportunity to work on the GEICO Camry when Ryan Newman seemed to get the best of David Reutimann on Lap 52, drawing the second caution flag of the afternoon.After restarting 32nd on Lap 58, Mears seemed to pick up speed and move steadily through the field, reaching 24th by Lap 116.A few laps later, the #13 GEICO Camry dipped into the Top 10, when Mears took over the 9th position just prior to his scheduled green flag pit stop on Lap 118.

Crew chief Bootie Barker made the save of the day when he anticipated a caution on Lap 187.Mears, riding in the 23rd position, was preparing to guide the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road for a scheduled green flag pit stop when Barker yelled, “Stay out, stay out, there’s going to be a caution.”Barker’s words proved to be prophetic as just moments later the caution flag was displayed.His quick action saved the GEICO team from going down multiple laps on the pit stop.

Mears restarted the race in the 29th position on Lap 194 and settled in there for the balance of the afternoon.

Despite battling an ill-handling racecar for nearly the entire 400-miles of the race, Mears and the GEICO Racing team managed to hustle to a 29th place finish, falling just two spots shy of their qualifying position.Mears finished just behind Kasey Kahne and was outpaced by only one ‘go or go home’ car, the #09 of Bobby Labonte.

“We had a tough day out there today and I’m proud of my GEICO team because we never quit all afternoon, we kept fighting until the checkered flag,” Mears said.“The car was hard to handle and we really seemed to battle that all weekend, so it was nice to be able to salvage a 29th place finish today.We’re excited to get to Kansas next weekend and get back after these guys.”

Casey Mears and the GEICO Racing team will next head to the heart of America when they travel to Kansas City, Kansas, for the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval of Kansas Speedway for the opening practice session at 1:00 PM (EDT) on Friday, October 1st.Qualifying will follow at 4:40 PM (EDT).

The Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, October 3rd, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 1:00 PM (EDT), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

Richmond, VA (September 11, 2010) – A week removed from going on a tear in Atlanta that found his average lap times in the Top 15, Casey Mears was anxious to get back to work in Richmond.

The race weekend kicked off with a visit to GEICO’s corporate office, located just 100-miles from Richmond International Raceway.GEICO officials expressed their excitement about Mears’ contribution to their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program and Mears departed the D.C. office with confidence and focus.

Whatever GEICO’s top brass shared with Mears must have carried great motivation because the GEICO Racing team entered Richmond poised for success.

At the end of the opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session, Mears was the fourth fastest ‘go or go home’ car.Crew chief Bootie Barker then made wholesale changes before the final practice session got underway.Barker, known as one of the most cerebral crew chiefs in the business, nailed it.The final session saw Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry as high as fourth on the speed chart before ending up 17th when the session closed.More importantly for the Germain Racing team, Mears was the fastest ‘go or go home’ car, while the next ‘go or go homer’ sat all the way down in 28th position.

When qualifying got underway, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry went out 38th and quickly placed themselves in Saturday night’s field. When the checkered flag ended his qualifying run, Mears found himself 18th on the starting grid after pacing the ¾-mile D-shaped oval in just 21.366 seconds, at a rate of speed of 126.369 miles per hour.

When race time arrived, the GEICO Racing team carried heavy hearts, as the NASCAR pre-race activities honored those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, as well as first responders and our troops abroad.

Starting in the 18th position, Mears would drop to 21st on Lap 23, but just one lap later, he placed the #13 GEICO Camry back in the Top 20.On lap 57, Kurt Busch sent David Reutimann for a spin, bringing out the event’s first caution flag of the evening.The caution would allow Mears to bring the GEICO Camry down pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires and a tank of Sunoco racing fuel.

On an otherwise beautiful evening, rain began to fall on lap 215, ultimately causing the caution flag to be displayed on lap 225.Mears came down pit road with the balance of the field to take on tires and fuel while the rain began to slow a bit. By lap 241, the green flag was out and the race was back underway.

Mears kept the #13 GEICO Camry in the Top 25 for the entire evening, running solidly ahead of both Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin for much of the time.He even flirted with the top 10 when he found himself in the 11th position on lap 327, until a scheduled green flag pit stop sent him down pit road for his final stop of the evening.After taking on tires and fuel, Mears rejoined the field in the 22nd spot.With just eight laps remaining in the Air Guard 400, Mears managed to track down Martin Truex, Jr, and secure the 21st position.

When the checkered flag was displayed, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry notched a 21st place finish, capping off a two week run that has shown marked improvement in the GEICO Racing Sprint Cup Series program.

“Tonight was a lot of fun and I think we’re showing that we’re pretty good at what we’re doing,” Mears said.“This #13 GEICO Camry is a good racecar and I appreciate all of the hard work that these Germain Racing guys are putting into it.We’re committed to getting to the front of the field, so we’re continuing to work hard and tweak on some things to make the program better.”He continued, “It was a great experience going to GEICO’s corporate office on Thursday and getting to sit down and talk to their top executives face-to-face and see their excitement about our race program.They are committed to giving us what we need to be successful and it feels great knowing we have that kind of support.”

The next GEICO sponsored race for Casey Mears and the Germain Racing team will be at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, September 26, 2010.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the Monster Mile for the opening practice session at 11:30 AM (EDT) on Friday, September 24th, followed by qualifying at 3:10 PM (EDT).

The Dover NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, September 26th, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 1:00 PM (EDT), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

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About Germain Racing

Germain Racing team owner Bob Germain Jr. is passionate about racing in NASCAR’s highest ranks. He and his brothers, Steve and Rick, established the racing team in 2004 and Bob is thrilled to see the team’s progression to competing each week in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.